Biography

Mark was born in Castleford in 1964 and attended local schools
before taking an apprenticeship as a stone mason. Having done an
access course at Park Lane College in Leeds Mark gained a joint
honours degree in History and Politics from Bradford
University.

He has worked across West Yorkshire for over 30 years in public
and private sector organisations including West Yorkshire County
Council, Castleford Citizens Advice Bureau, Cable Tel Ltd,
Cannon, The Rugby Football League and Halifax PLC.

In 1998 Mark was elected as a Labour councillor to represent the
ward of Castleford Central and Glasshoughton. He became a member of
the West Yorkshire Police Authority in 1999 and Chair of the
Authority in 2003. He was elected Chair of the Association of
Police Authorities in 2011 where he was instrumental in enabling
the transition to the formation of the Association of Police and
Crime Commissioners (APCC), and now serves on a number of national
working groups as well as a leading campaigner on issues such as
the Proceeds of Crime legislation and Human Trafficking. Mark
was awarded an OBE in 2012 for services to the community
and policing.

In June 2012 Mark was selected as Labour's Police and Crime
Commissioner Candidate for West Yorkshire and on 15 November was
elected as the first Police and Crime Commissioner for West
Yorkshire. He stood down as a councillor in January 2013 as he had
pledged.

Mark is a trustee of Castleford Heritage Trust and a governor of
Castleford Academy. He is a lifelong Castleford Tigers fan, a
former rugby league player and President of Glasshoughton Cricket
Club.